Diamond Rebels Run-Rule Charleston Southern, 11-1, to Take the Series
OXFORD, Miss. – It will be an early night out for the Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss (2-0) needed just seven innings to rout Charleston Southern 11-1 Saturday afternoon at Swayze Field to earn an opening-series win to start the 2022 season.
A&M-Corpus Christi transfer John Gaddis earned his first win as a Rebel, throwing four innings and surrendering one run on just three hits while striking out three in his debut.
“I was a little pumped up and adrenalized to start the game. Then I kind of settled down and realized it was still just pitching. Everything just went from there once I got into the flow of the game.”
Senior lefty John Gaddis
As much in the flow as Gaddis got, the Ole Miss offense needed little time getting into its. After going scoreless in the first inning, the Rebels scored in each of the next five innings, highlighted by a four-run second inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, Peyton Chatagnier got things rolling with a lead-off double down the left field line and then advanced to third base the very next pitch on a ball in the dirt.
The next batter, TJ McCants, drove Chatagnier home on a single to left field, which got the Rebels on the board. McCants then advanced to second base after a balk by CSU’s Jerry Couch before coming around to score after an errant throw to third base on a steal.
On the board!@mccants_tj | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/TV1OEcxwiC
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 19, 2022
Two batters later, after Ben Van Cleve walked, Hayden Leatherwood sent a ball into the right field bullpen that would increase the Ole Miss lead by two, making it 4-0.
Is a 4.000 slugging percentage good? Asking for @HLeatherwood9… pic.twitter.com/qOUnpFta7G
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 19, 2022
The home half of the third inning entailed some fielding mishaps for Charleston Southern. With none on and one out, Peyton Chatagnier bunted to the pitcher but reached on a throwing error that advanced him to second base.
Next, Hayden Dunhurst hit a fly ball to third base that went unaccounted for, falling in for a single that scored Chatagnier from second base. Ben Van Cleve followed with a double down the left field line, scoring Dunhurst from first base, putting the Rebels ahead 6-0 after three innings.
All the while the Rebel offense was going to work, Gaddis was doing much of the same. He managed to hold the Buccaneers scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Charleston Southern’s lead-off batter started the inning with a double and later came around to score on a two-out single.
The Rebels answered in the bottom of the inning, adding two more runs thanks to a Tim Elko two-run home run that scored Jacob Gonzalez who led off the inning with a double to left field. It was Elko’s second homer of the season.
Good to see that new ACL isn't slowing @TimElko down… pic.twitter.com/C9VxKKxWCN
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 19, 2022
“I’m feeling good,” the Rebels’ captain said.
“Just trying to see pitches and hit them. I try to simplify it. That’s about it.”
Ole Miss Captain Tim Elko
Freshman Riley Maddox came on in relief of Gaddis in the fifth and retired the side in order, striking out two. The Rebs added one run in bottom of the inning, and Maddox returned to the mound in the sixth and allowed one hit but nothing else.
“I thought he was terrific today. Up to 95-96 (miles per hour) slider and good changeup. If he can do that (all year), our bullpen just got a lot better.”
Coach Bianco on Rebel pitcher Riley Maddox
Ole Miss added two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Matt Parenteau came in to close out the game in the top of the seventh, striking out two of the final three batters.
Elko led the offense going 2-for-3 and driving in three runs. Hayden Leatherwood had his first home run of the season.
Series Finale
Ole Miss and Charleston Southern will finish the series Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The game is streaming on SECN+
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
